Table of Contents
Just like other sports, table tennis is a young athlete’s sport. However, the sport has seen remarkable athletes who have defied age expectations, proving that experience and strategy can outshine youthful exuberance. In this blog, we take a look at ten of the oldest table tennis players to win an Olympic medal in singles event.
10 Oldest Men Medalists
- Jan-Ove Waldner (34 years & 11 months)
SILVER MEDAL
Jan-Ove Waldner, born on October 3, 1965, in Stockholm, Sweden, is regarded as one of the greatest table tennis players of all time. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he won a silver medal in the men’s singles event making him the oldest table tennis player to win an Olympic medal.
2. Dimitrij Ovtcharov (32 years & 11 months)
BRONZE MEDAL
Dimitrij Ovtcharov, born on September 2, 1988, in Kyiv, Ukraine, is a German table tennis player of Russian-Ukrainian descent. A prominent figure in the sport, Ovtcharov has secured multiple Olympic medals. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the men’s singles event making him the second oldest table tennis player to win an Olympic medal.
3. Ma Long (32 years & 9 months)
GOLD MEDAL
Ma Long is widely regarded as the greatest table tennis player of all time. Ma long has never lost an Olympic match. He is the only 2-time Grand Slam table tennis champion and the only male table tennis player to secure 2 Olympic Gold Medals. He won he second gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the age of 32 years and 9 months.
4. Wang Liqin (32 years & 2 months)
BRONZE MEDAL
Wang Liqin, born on June 18, 1978, in Shanghai, China, is a legendary Chinese table tennis player known for his powerful forehand and exceptional athleticism. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he won his second bronze medal at the men’s singles event at the age of 32 years & 2 months
5. Wang Tao (28 years & 7 months)
SILVER MEDAL
6. Wang Hao (28 years & 7 months)
SILVER MEDAL
7. Zhang Jike (28 years & 6 months)
SILVER MEDAL
8. Ma Lin (28 years & 6 months)
GOLD MEDAL
10. Ma Long (27 years & 10 months)
GOLD MEDAL
10 Oldest Women Medalists
1 . Chen Jing (32 years)
BRONZE MEDAL
2 . Chen Meng (30 years & 6 months)
GOLD MEDAL
3. Wang Nan (29 years & 10 months)
SILVER MEDAL
4. Li Xiaoxia (28 years & 7 months)
SILVER MEDAL
5. Chen Jing (27 years & 10 months)
SILVER MEDAL
6. Qiao Hong (27 years & 8 months)
BRONZE MEDAL
7 . Chen Meng (27 years & 6 months)
GOLD MEDAL
8. Kim Kyung-ah (27 years & 3 months)
BRONZE MEDAL
9. Zhang Yining (26 years & 10 months)
BRONZE MEDAL
10. Ding Ning (26 years & 1 months)
GOLD MEDAL
10 Oldest Medalists (Men and Women Combined)
1.Jan-Ove Waldner (34 years & 11 months)
SILVER MEDAL
2. Dimitrij Ovtcharov (32 years & 11 months)
BRONZE MEDAL
3. Ma Long (32 years & 9 months)
GOLD MEDAL
4. Chen Jing (32 years)
BRONZE MEDAL
5 . Chen Meng (30 years & 6 months)
GOLD MEDAL
6. Wang Liqin (32 years & 2 months)
BRONZE MEDAL
7. Wang Nan (29 years & 10 months)
SILVER MEDAL
8. Li Xiaoxia (28 years & 7 months)
SILVER MEDAL
9. Wang Tao (28 years & 7 months)
SILVER MEDAL
10. Wang Hao (28 years & 7 months)
SILVER MEDAL
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